'Gyrating' Buswell at it again

TREASURER Troy Buswell was left nursing his wounds after a scuffle with a prominent Perth businessman in another drunken joke-gone-wrong.

Today, The Sunday Times can reveal details of the incident involving Mr Buswell and Kailis Bros managing director Nicholas Kailis, which until now has been a closely guarded secret.

Just 12 months after promising Premier Colin Barnett he would be on his best behaviour following a series of embarrassing pranks, including the infamous chair-sniffing scandal, the then-housing and transport minister jokingly forced himself on Mr Kailis at a function in December and "dry-humped" him, allegedly moaning in mock sexual pleasure.

Worse for wear after a day on the grog, Mr Buswell refused to get off and Mr Kailis retaliated.

The Sunday Times was told a dazed Mr Buswell, his glasses bent from the tussle, then got off Mr Kailis before being taken away by his then-girlfriend, Fremantle independent MP Adele Carles.

This afternoon, Premier Colin Barnett responded to the story and stated that while the Treasurer 'lived life on the edge', he would not consider sacking him.

"I am disappointed in the story that appeared this morning. It was a private event and it happened over a year ago,'' the Premier said.

"The people who were there are disputing that account of what happened.

"Can I say to the media: give the guy a chance. How much scrutiny does there need to be on one individual's life in every respect? By all means judge them on what they say and do, but enough is enough.''

Mr Barnett said there should be a limit on what he called a "relentless'' pursuit of Mr Buswell.

"Troy carries a heavy responsibility as treasurer and minister for transport. He works hard and I have great respect for the work he does,'' Mr Barnett said.

"Occasionally what happens in his private life detracts from that, and that is unfortunate from his point of view.

"But I believe the level of public and media scrutiny of Troy has now gone too far, and I would say to people back off a little bit and let him perform to his true capacity.''

The Opposition said the Premier should sack Mr Buswell.

"If today's reports are anywhere near accurate, the premier has no choice but to sack Mr Buswell,'' said Sue Ellery, Labor's leader in the Legislative Council.

"The premier talks a lot about standards, but he seems to endorse the lowest of standards from his cabinet.

"A key question is, did Premier Barnett know about this indiscretion prior to him promoting him back to treasurer?''

Carles: 'Incident shocked me'

Ms Carles this week declined to comment on the altercation, but after The Sunday Times confronted her with details, she confirmed it happened and said it had been a major factor in her decision to break off her two-year-relationship with Mr Buswell in March this year.

Adele CarlesSource:PerthNow

"The incident shocked me," she said. "I lost respect for Troy and I ended our relationship soon afterwards."

Mr Buswell yesterday responded: "I confirm I attended a private function with friends, over 12 months ago. I have no further comments about my private life other than to categorically deny this version of events."

On the day of the incident Mr Buswell and a group of Perth businessmen, which included property developer Nigel Satterley, mining magnate Chris Ellison and Mr Kailis, attended a lunch hosted by property tycoon Russell Gibbs.

They then went back to Mr Satterley's Peppermint Grove mansion, where wives and partners were lunching.

Ms Carles said her former partner had phoned her to pick him up from the Satterley mansion.

She said the incident happened about 20 minutes after she got there.

"I was at my home he rang me and asked me to pick him up from Nigel's," Ms Carles said.

"He (Mr Buswell) was drunk."

She said Mr Buswell was on top of Mr Kailis in Mr Satterley's lounge room. "He (Mr Kailis) was wrestling with him and yelling that kind of stuff. I don't recall the exact words Mr Kailis used but it was to the effect of, 'get off, get off'.

"He was trying to get him off.

"I did attempt to pull Troy off of Kailis and I called to Troy, 'get off him, get off him', but to no avail.

"I was no match for Troy and neither was Kailis."

She said Mr Buswell was "dazed" after being struck on the side of his face, and was left with damage to his eye glasses.

"He then got off of Kailis", she said, and they left.

Ms Carles said she warned Mr Buswell on the way home that she would not cover up the incident if it became public. "He didn't say a whole lot in the car."

"I said to him, 'if this gets out, I won't protect you. I won't be covering this up'."

Ms Carles added: "The next morning I said to Troy as soon as he woke up: 'You better apologise to Nigel and Nicholas and the other people at the party. And then he got up and started making calls."

When contacted by The Sunday Times on Friday, Mr Kailis said: "I am at a staff party at the moment and I don't have time to discuss what you are talking about.

"And what you have just said is incorrect."

When told of the eyewitness account, he said: "I just said, I don't care what you have."

Mr Satterley confirmed Mr Buswell and a group of business people had been at his home in December last year, but said he knew nothing of the incident.

"I know nothing," he said.

This afternoon, in a very brief press conference outside her Fremantle electoral office, Ms Carles said she was confronted by The Sunday Times about the incident and was asked for her comment.

“I faced a choice, do I tell a lie or do I tell the truth and I chose to tell the truth,” Ms Carles said.

“I simply arrived at the party to pick him (Troy Buswell) up and that’s when the incident took place.

“We were walking out of the lounge room and Nicholas Kailis was sitting on the couch...and unbeknownst to Nicholas, Troy came up right beside him and jumped on top of him.

“From my point of view it was a shocking incident. It was inappropriate.”

Ms Carles’ press conference lasted just two and a half minutes before she ducked back into her office as reporter’s continued to ask questions.

Mr Buswell has had a controversial career since entering politics in 2008.

He has previously admitted snapping a Labor staffer's bra as a drunken party trick.

And in 2008, he lost the leadership of the Liberal Party after revelations by The Sunday Times that he sniffed the chair of a female staffer as part of a prank.

In 2010, he resigned as Treasurer after his affair with the then-Greens MP was revealed.

Despite resistance within his own ranks, Mr Barnett reinstated Mr Buswell to his Cabinet in December 2010 before promoting him to Treasurer this year saying, according to sources, "this is your last chance".